Photoluminescence, unconventional-range temperature sensing, and efficient catalytic activities of lanthanide metal-organic frameworks

A luminescent lanthanide metal-organic framework (MOF) based on Eu and Tb ions with 2-phenylsuccinate (EuTb-psa) was obtained solvothermally to explore its behavior as a temperature sensor in an unconventional temperature range through the study of the thermal evolution of the hypersensitive 4f-4f D→F transition and the luminescence lifetime. The efficiency of the luminescence process was evaluated through the europium intrinsic quantum yield (Q), and its variation as a function of temperature is also reported. The optical properties of four isostructural compounds (Pr-psa, Nd-psa, Gd-psa, and Tb-psa) were investigated and compared with those of related compounds. The energy of the triplet state of the ligand was also estimated. The samples were fully characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and vibrational spectroscopy. The heterogeneous catalytic activities of a series of Ln-psa MOFs (with Ln = Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, EuGd, and EuTb) were evaluated in a one-pot cyanosilylation with benzaldehyde as the substrate. A luminescent lanthanide metal-organic framework (MOF) based on Eu and Tb ions with 2-phenylsuccinate (EuTb-psa) is explored as a temperature sensor. The optical properties of four isostructural compounds (Pr-psa, Nd-psa, Gd-psa, and Tb-psa) are also investigated. The heterogeneous catalytic activities of these Ln-psa MOFs are evaluated in a one-pot cyanosilylation reaction.This work was supported by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (PIP CONICET 112‐201101‐ 00912), ANPCyT PICT‐2012‐1994 and Universidad Nacional de San Luis (PROICO 2‐1612). G. E. G. acknowledges a CONICET PhD fellowship. R. V. D. and A. M. K. thank the Hercules Foundation (project AUGE/09/024 “Advanced Luminescence Setup”) for funding. A. M. and E. G. P. thank the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) project MAT2013‐45460‐R, and Madrid S2013/MIT‐2740 (PHAMA_2.0). MINECO/ICTI2013-2016/MAT2013‐45460‐